Marking needle for a fabric marking machine

ABSTRACT

A marking needle for a fabric marking machine has an elongated, hollow needle body with a tip provided with two opposite perforations. A tube filled with marking liquid is inserted into the needle body and is closed at one end by an insert of porous material which extends from the tube past the perforations and into contact with the needle body at the tip. A cap is threaded into the needle body and bears against a spring in turn bearing against the tube to apply pressure thereagainst and cause the insert to be deformed and bulge outwardly through the perforations.

United States Patent I19] I Liinge [541 MARKING NEEDLE FOR A FABRIC MARKING MACHINE [75] Inventor: Erwin Liin'ge, Marbach/LautenGfl- 7 many 73 Assignee: BullmerwerkKarlBullmer 22 Filed: July 8,1971

[21] Appl.No.: 160,820

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [ll] 3,722,328 Mar'. 27, 1973 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,458,417 10/1966 France "401/199 Primary Examiner-Robefl C. Riordon Assistant Examiner-Roscoe V. Parker Attorney-E'ric H. Waters et al.

[ ABSTRACT I A marking needle for a fabric marking machine has an elongated, hollowneedle body with a tip provided with two opposite perforations. A tube filled with marking liquid is inserted into the needle body and is closed at one end by an insert of porous material which extends from the tube past the perforations and into contact with the needle body at the tip. A cap is threaded into the needle body and bears'against a spring in turn bearing against the tube to apply pres sure thereag'ainst and cause the insert to be deformed and bulge outwardly through the perforations.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHARZYIQB 3 722,32

SHEET 10F 2 FIG. 1

MARKING NEEDLE FOR A FABRIC MARKING MACHINE BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIGN The invention relates to a fabric marking needle for marking machines, formed with apertures near the tip thereof for dispensing a marking liquid contained in a cavity of the needle.

Color marking is used in cases where a normal or standard marking needle would not leave a sufficiently long and clearly visible imprint in loosely woven fabrics. In such cases, it has hitherto been accepted practice to pass a marking liquid or a marking powder partially supported by pressure air, through a hollow needle and to dispense it from the needle tip to the walls of the hole. This mode of operation has several disadvantages. First, the construction expenditure is considerable and there is a danger of the marking needle being clogged or the contents drying up. Furthermore, correct dosing of the coloring agent is relatively unreliable.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved marking needle wherein the above mentioned disadvantages are avoided.

The achievement of this object is obtained, according to the invention, in that the marking needle has two perforations which are located opposite each other and are relatively long in the longitudinal direction, a small tube filled with marking liquid being pushed into the needle cavity, said small tube having at its lower end an insert made from felt, glass fiber or similar porous or pore-forming material and being subjected at its upper end to an axial pressure such that the. insert is .somewhat upset, so that it bulges out through the two perforations. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Further details of the invention will be disclosed hereafter with reference to the appended drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a marking machine having a marking needle inserted therein;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a marking needle according to the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the marking needle according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION For a better understanding of the invention, there will first be described, with reference to FIG. ll a marking machine in which a marking needle according to the invention may be used. Reference numeral ll designates a motor, such as a compressed air or electric motor, for driving a marking needle 2 in rotation. The motor is adapted to be displaced upwardly and downwardly by engagement of two handles 4 slidably mounted on guide posts 3, the downward movement taking place against the action of springs (not shown). At least one of the guide posts 3, is provided with marks (not shown) for adjusting the desired penetration depth of the marking needle 2. For this purpose, the lower transverse web 5 is vertically adjustable by means of a rotatable knob 6 which is adapted to be locked.

Attached to the base of the guide posts is an annular base or support plate 7 having a centrally arranged,

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cruciform sighting member 8 by which the machine can be applied to a particular location on the fabric to be marked. The cruciform sighting member 8 is formed with an aperture 8a for passage of the marking needle 2.

The two guide posts 3 are connected at theirupper ends by a transverse web 9, The motor 1 is mounted on a second transverse web 10 secured to the handles 4 to undergo upward and downward movement therewith. The motor l is connected to a power source via a conduit 12 extending with clearance through an aperture 13 formed in the stationary upper transverse web 9. At its upper end, the motor 1 is provided with a switch 14 for impinging against the upper transverse web 9 to deenergize the drive of the motor.

The marking needle 2 is secured to the shaft of the motor by means of a chuck 15.

The marking needle 2 is hollow as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and at its lower end it is tapered in known manner at 116 to facilitate entry or penetration into the layers of fabric disposed one upon the other. A short distance thereabove, the needle is formed with two opposite perforations 17 which are relatively elongate in the axial direction. Inserted into the needle 2 is a small tube 18 which is filled with marking ink and has at its lower end'an insert 19 made from felt, glass fiber or a similar porous or pore-forming material. At its upper end, the tube 18 is subjected to the action of a spring 20 adjustably biased by a plug 21 threaded into the marking needle 2. The bias is so selected that the felt or glass fiber insert 119 is somewhat upset, so that it bulges outwardly through the perforations 17 in the hollow needle. in this way, a reliable contact is achieved between the layers of cloth and the felt or glass fiber insert. The dosingof the quantity of coloring matter is effected automatically due to the capillary effect of the viscous coloring matter which seeks to flow, under its own weight, through the pores in the felt or glass fiber insert but is prevented from doing so due to the surface tension of the tiny droplets forming at the pores. Only when the droplets are brushed off due to the penetraoperation is the same as for example, in a felt pen.

Flow-out of the coloring liquid is impossible with the arrangement according to this invention. Color dosing is absolutely reliable and uniform and if the coloring matter should dry up during relatively long periods of non-use, it will suffice to dip the tip of the needle into a suitable solvent.

After exhausting a color insert, the latter is simply replaced by a new one. Also changing over'to another marking color, which previously required complicated and toilsome cleaning work to be effected, thereby becomes simple and uncomplicated.

What is claimed is:

l. A marking needle for a fabric marking machine comprising an elongated, hollow needle body having a tip and at least one perforation. near said tip for dispensing a marking liquid, a tube in said needle body extending therein in a region outside said perforation, said tube being filled with a marking liquid, an insert in said tube extending therefrom beyond said perforation and into contact with said needle body, said insert being constituted of a porous or pore-forming material,

and means applying axial pressure to said tube to deform the insert whereby it bulges outwardly through said perforation.

2. A needle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said perforation is elongate in the longitudinal direction of the needle body. I

3. A needle as claimed in claim 2 wherein two of said perforations are provided in said needle body in diametrically opposed relation.

4. A needle as claimed in claim 3 wherein said tube is slidable in said needle body so as to be removable therefrom when the marking liquid is exhausted or a different tube with a different color marking liquid is to be utilized.

5. A needle as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means applying axial pressure to said insert comprises means for adjusting said pressure.

6. A needle as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means applying axial pressure to said tube comprises a spring.

7. A needle as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means for adjusting said pressure comprises a plug threadably engaged in said needle body and bearing against said spring.

8. A needle as claimed in claim 7 wherein the material of said insert is felt or glass fiber.

9. A needle as claimed in claim 7 wherein said needle body has an end remote from said tip, said tube extending in said needle body from a position proximate said perforations to the region of the other end of the needle body.

10. A needle as claimed in claim 9 wherein said tip of the needle body is tapered to facilitate penetration into layers of material to be marked.

i s a: 

1. A marking needle for a fabric marking machine comprising an elongated, hollow needle body having a tip and at least one perforation near said tip for dispensing a marking liquid, a tube in said needle body extending therein in a region outside said perforation, said tube being filled with a marking liquid, an insert in said tube extending therefrom beyond said perforation and into contact with said needle body, said insert being constituted of a porous or pore-forming material, and means applying axial pressure to said tube to deform the insert whereby it bulges outwardly through said perforation.
 2. A needle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said perforation is elongate in the longitudinal direction of the needle body.
 3. A needle as claimed in claim 2 wherein two of said perforations are provided in said needle body in diametrically opposed relation.
 4. A needle as claimed in claim 3 wherein said tube is slidable in said needle body so as to be removable therefrom when the marking liquid is exhausted or a different tube with a different color marking liquid is to be utilized.
 5. A needle as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means applying axIal pressure to said insert comprises means for adjusting said pressure.
 6. A needle as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means applying axial pressure to said tube comprises a spring.
 7. A needle as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means for adjusting said pressure comprises a plug threadably engaged in said needle body and bearing against said spring.
 8. A needle as claimed in claim 7 wherein the material of said insert is felt or glass fiber.
 9. A needle as claimed in claim 7 wherein said needle body has an end remote from said tip, said tube extending in said needle body from a position proximate said perforations to the region of the other end of the needle body.
 10. A needle as claimed in claim 9 wherein said tip of the needle body is tapered to facilitate penetration into layers of material to be marked. 